One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce has claimed that Australia is a 'Christian nation' and that many First Nations people would agree with him. The comments were made at an anti-abortion gala in Sydney, where Joyce accepted a 'political courage' award.
Joyce's Remarks at Anti-Abortion Gala
At the event, organized by controversial anti-abortion activist Joanna Howe, Joyce was asked by Benjamin van der Linden from the group Make Australia Christian Again if Australia is a Christian nation. Joyce responded, 'Yes, it was premised on Christian principles.' He added, 'A lot of Indigenous people would tell you straight up and proper Australia's a Christian nation.'
Declining Christian Adherence
Joyce's claims come amid a long-term decline in Christian adherence in Australia. According to the 2021 census, 43.9% of Australians identified as Christian, down from 54% in 2016, while 38.9% reported no religion. Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, 54% reported a Christian affiliation in 2016.
Backlash from Indigenous Scholar
Professor Anne Pattel-Gray, a Bidjara and Nguri woman and academic director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies at the University of Queensland, criticized Joyce's comments. She stated that Christianity was delivered to Australia through 'colonial objectives, denial and theft' and that 'colonial Christianity justified all manner of injustices and violence towards Aboriginal people.' She also noted that many churches have apologized for their role in the Stolen Generations, but called apologies without reparations 'pretty hollow.'
Historical Context of Missions
In the 1800s, many First Nations people were forced into religious missions, which the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies notes were 'often created by churches or religious individuals to house Aboriginal people, convert them to Christianity and prepare them for menial jobs.'
Extremism and Political Impact
Professor Chris Wallace from the University of Canberra warned that One Nation's embrace of 'feral extremism' could alienate mainstream voters. She said, 'Australian elections are won from the middle ground.' Dr. Prudence Flowers from Flinders University added that anti-abortion rhetoric is 'linking abortion with population and whiteness,' creating a 'noxious brew of anti-feminism, anti-abortion and anti-immigration.'
Joanna and James Howe were contacted for comment, as was One Nation, but did not respond.
